I’d change my technique to copy Virat Kohli’s, and if that failed I’d try copy Rohit Sharma: David Bedingham

South Africa’s David Bedingham reveals he used try and copy the technique of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in his teen years and call the Indian batsmen as his favourites by a country mile.

Bedingham, who scored a fluid 56 in Centurion said growing up his crickeing heroes were Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis but it was Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who fascinated him during his teenage years.

“Definitely Herschelle Gibbs. Jacques Kallis was from my school [Wynberg Boys’ High] … or, I was from his school. So I tended to watch those two,” he told reporters ahead of the second Test in Newlands.

“My two favourites among Indian players are Sharma and Kohli. I think when I was between 13-18, I was trying to mould my technique like theirs (Kallis and Gibbs) and when I had a bad game, I changed my technique to copy Kohli’s or try probably Sharma’s,” said Bedingham.

Bedingham has played English county cricket for Durham since 2020, and he is also grateful that he got an opportunity to interact with England Test skipper Ben Stokes during his stint with Durham.

“I think we talked a lot. I think he refrained from talking about cricket a lot. He spoke about dealing with pressures, speaking to a world-class player like him did help handle the pressure better during the first Test,” Bedingham said about his interactions with Stokes.

Bedingham has played nearly 90 first-class games before making his international debut.

“Everything happens for a reason. Fine if it (Test debut) would have happened five years ago but I have played so much First-Class cricket that I learnt the ups and downs. It prepares you better for Test cricket.

“I think because of all my experiences in First-Class cricket, I can keep my emotions in check,” he said.

Bedingham and Keegan Petersen are the only two players from the playing XI, that defeated India by an innings at Centurion, who have been named in South Africa’s squad for two Tests in New Zealand, with all the other first-choice players committed to the SA20.

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